Ancient Hours, Modern Stories ⏰🌄
CGTN’s new documentary "Xinjiang Dawn to Dusk" transports us to the heart of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, using the ancient 12 shi-chen—Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai—as its guiding rhythm. Across four seasons, more than 20 characters from diverse ethnic backgrounds and trades share their daily moments in a land where cosmic time meets human stories.
From the morning Zi hour’s first light to the final Hai hour’s evening glow, each segment reveals a new slice of life: herders tending flocks on sun-drenched steppes, artisans weaving vibrant patterns, and families gathering for feasts under starlit skies. It’s a living scroll that shows how traditions adapt and flourish in today’s world.
Through a cinematic lens, the film asks the timeless question: What is time? From ancient Egyptians mapping the Nile’s cycles to modern atomic clocks, humanity has chased the seconds and minutes. Here in Xinjiang, the 12 shi-chen offer their own poetic answer—a reminder that time is not just measured, but lived.
For young explorers, students, and culture enthusiasts, "Xinjiang Dawn to Dusk" is more than a documentary: it’s an invitation to feel the pulse of a region where every hour tells a story. Ready to set your watch to a new rhythm?
Reference(s):
"Xinjiang Dawn to Dusk" | The Pulse of Xinjiang, Measured in Time
cgtn.com
